ISPA does a number of things to contribute to the social good, chief of which is our Teacher's Training programme, in which we have trained over 1500 teachers at rural schools and of course our annual iWeek, a free conference for anyone interested in the Internet industry in SA and elsewhere.
ISPA believes that being an ISP is a difficult but rewarding career.
Although there are already many ISPs in SA - ISPA has 160 members - there is still room for more ISPs, especially those dealing with niche markets in rural and other underserved areas. The recent changes in legislation regarding ECS and ECNS licenses opens up many new opportunities. We are also concerned that the Internet industry seems to be dominated by "pale males".
In order to make a contribution to dealing with these issues, ISPA's Membership Working Group has drafted a course for budding Internet entrepreneurs. The course deals, albeit briefly, with all aspects of starting and running a business in the Internet industry. It covers business plans, budgeting, negotiating with upstream and other suppliers, legal and regulatory aspects, as well as the inevitable and wide-ranging technical issues. By the conclusion of the course, attendees are expected to have completed a full Business Plan for their chosen market and to be almost ready to open for business!
The course is aimed at those with some exposure to the Internet and a passion for taking their involvement further. Experience is not required, but a degree of computer and Internet literacy is. It will assist anyone who wishes to become an access provider, a network operator, a WISP, a hosting provider, a support provider, an operator of an Internet Café, and many other roles in the industry.
We are running an initial pilot course early next month. The course will therefore perhaps not yet be as polished as we'd like it to be, and in addition to the criteria mentioned below for attending, ISPA would welcome constructive feedback on how we may improve the course. The duration of the course is one week - 2009-03-02 to 2009-03-06 - and will be held in Braamfontein. Attendance is entirely free, including lunch, although transport and accommodation will be the attendee's own responsibility.
ISPA welcomes applications via the form to be found at: - http://www.ispa.org.za/files/application.isp.startup.training.pdf
Anyone with an interest in attending this course is welcome, although preference will be given to candidates from a disadvantaged background who are not at present working for or operating an ISP. Places are limited, and applications must be received by Tuesday 24th February.
ISPA believes that being an ISP is a difficult but rewarding career.
Although there are already many ISPs in SA - ISPA has 160 members - there is still room for more ISPs, especially those dealing with niche markets in rural and other underserved areas. The recent changes in legislation regarding ECS and ECNS licenses opens up many new opportunities. We are also concerned that the Internet industry seems to be dominated by "pale males".
In order to make a contribution to dealing with these issues, ISPA's Membership Working Group has drafted a course for budding Internet entrepreneurs. The course deals, albeit briefly, with all aspects of starting and running a business in the Internet industry. It covers business plans, budgeting, negotiating with upstream and other suppliers, legal and regulatory aspects, as well as the inevitable and wide-ranging technical issues. By the conclusion of the course, attendees are expected to have completed a full Business Plan for their chosen market and to be almost ready to open for business!
The course is aimed at those with some exposure to the Internet and a passion for taking their involvement further. Experience is not required, but a degree of computer and Internet literacy is. It will assist anyone who wishes to become an access provider, a network operator, a WISP, a hosting provider, a support provider, an operator of an Internet Café, and many other roles in the industry.
We are running an initial pilot course early next month. The course will therefore perhaps not yet be as polished as we'd like it to be, and in addition to the criteria mentioned below for attending, ISPA would welcome constructive feedback on how we may improve the course. The duration of the course is one week - 2009-03-02 to 2009-03-06 - and will be held in Braamfontein. Attendance is entirely free, including lunch, although transport and accommodation will be the attendee's own responsibility.
ISPA welcomes applications via the form to be found at: - http://www.ispa.org.za/files/application.isp.startup.training.pdf
Anyone with an interest in attending this course is welcome, although preference will be given to candidates from a disadvantaged background who are not at present working for or operating an ISP. Places are limited, and applications must be received by Tuesday 24th February.
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